And she did. Countless others have walked through that door behind Dorothea Tanning– fellow iconoclasts and creative powerhouses (many women, but surely, many not) who might never have pursued their work otherwise.

Her independence, her intelligence, and her centenarian resolve to lead an extraordinary life no matter what, should be as central to her legacy as her art and writings. Tanning died in her sleep last night at the age of 101…

“…and pieces of history die with her. Artist, poet, wife of Max Ernst from 1946 until he died in 1976, and (along with Frida Kahlo, Leonora Carrington, Kay Sage, Lee Miller, Maya Deren, Remedios Varo, and Leonor Fini) one of a group of great women Surrealists, she was at the center of a movement that was a vicious mill for women. Among the surrealists, females — while ‘allowed’ to be artists — were often also relegated to the sidelines of neglected or beset mistresses, muses, and madwomen.” ~Jerry Saltz (for New York Magazine)

Birthday (1942) by Dorothea Tanning. Oil on canvas.

Her advice to younger generations: “Keep your eye on your inner world and keep away from ads, idiots and movie stars.”

A big bow and tip of my hat to Coilhouse and most of all to DOROTHEA TANNING! There’s a groovy art exhibit presently @ LACMA featuring, among others, the extraordinary Dorothea Tanning… a wide range of items from one of her more famous oil-on-canvas masterworks (Birthday) to an exquisite three-page collage-letter of correspondence from D.T. to Joseph Cornell (“… Joseph, how do you do it?”).

Take another look at the photographic picture of proto-hippies Dorothea & Max playing chess in Sedona not long after WWII.. Whaddaya think… psyloscibin or peyote??? “Leaving the door open for the imagination” indeed, mightn’t you say?